THE RECENT STABBING CASE AT DUNEDIN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1123, 8 January 1884, Page 3

THE RECENT STABBING CASE AT DUNEDIN.

The inquest on Matilda Hancock was resumed at Dunedin on Friday, Anne Feedill, deposed, she was a neighbor who had gone to see the woman after she received the wound. The woman told her Pearce had stabbed her. Witness bathed and dressed the wound and told Pearce he ought to go for a doctor, but he did not. Witness asked Pearce about the stabbing, and he said they had a few words and he did it in a passion. Sarah Boyd, also a neighbor, next gave evidence. In her examination in chief she said Mrs Pearce told her she got the wound by falling in the yard on a piece of glass. To Inspector Weldon, the witness said that after the police sergeant had taken the deceased’s clothes away, several women were in Pearce’s house, and one of them, pointing to the knife on the mantelpiece, said, *1 wonder if that is the knife.’ Another said, ‘lf it was it should be put away.’ Pearce then went to the mantelpiece and put something in his pocket, and, coming over to witness, whispered, ‘Can I put this in your house!’ Witness answered, “Oh no; nothing in ray place.” Pearce went out and did not return for fully half an hour. Thomas Lawson deposed that on the Saturday night prior to deceased’s death Pearce and she were quarrelling about the back of the house. Both were very drunk. Pearce was talking to some one else, and said, * the cow—l know her better than you. I have lived with I lie cow for three years, and I ought to know better than you what to do with her.” On Sunday afternoon he heard the woman had been stabbed, and on Monday he was told she was dead. Witness’s wife took a shilling’s worth of beer into the house, and witness went in to got a share of it. He, witness, was then pretty ‘tight.’ There were several knives on the mantlepiece, and someone said the knife should be done away with. There was a general knowledge that the woman had been stabbed, and a feeling that as she was dead it would be a pity to see Pearce get into trouble. One of the knives which was on the mantelpiece when he went in was not there when he went out. The knife was lying there after the police took away the deceased’s clothes. Another neighbor, Annie Proven, deposed that the deceased had told her she was stabbed by Billy (Pearce). After her death Pearce said to witness ‘ I may be taken up for this case. Will you take charge of ray fish knife V but witness replied, ‘ No.’ The further evidence given was corroborative of that previously taken, and Drs Coughtrey and Copeland also gave evidence. Dr Copeland stated that he had been called in within an hour after death, which occurred about midnight, and told Pearce he could not give a certificate, but recommended him to communicate with the police. Pearce did so about five or six o’clock. The jury returned a verdict equivalent to wilful murder, and the Coroner committed Pearce for trial.